Four little words were his first response to how I handled a situation at work and with a friend.
"I'm proud of you."
And, that's why it's amazing that your boyfriend will never be your girlfriend.
Who knew those four little words could be transformative?
It's not like it was the first time someone said that to me, but some how it was different. Same words, very different feelings.
I'm proud of me too.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
For reals.
There are some things you don't know that you don't know until you are in the situation.
When it comes to communication, your boyfriend is not your girlfriend, and that's amazing.
I'm just sayin'.
When it comes to communication, your boyfriend is not your girlfriend, and that's amazing.
I'm just sayin'.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
A New Year, A New Rear?
I admit, I'm a bit late on the 2010 Year in Review blog post. I have a good excuse though! December was crazy. Between health issues, Christmas parties, spending time with family and my man, the blog was put on the back burner.
2010 was a significant year, for sure. It was a year of hope fulfilled and dreams realized. I had the opportunity to write for ExemplifyOnline, I met my weight loss goal after two years of work, I finally found community and friendship in my city, and a relationship was unexpectedly restored. Month after month, my expectations were blown away. It wasn't without struggle, but it was outweighed by the blessing.
When I look forward to 2011, all I can see is a big question mark. I definitely have more questions than answers, at this point. The one thing I do know is that this is the first year in my adult life that I, Alison Hunt, do not need to lose weight, and that's pretty darn significant.
Here's to a year filled with pleasant surprises and surpassed expectations!
2010 was a significant year, for sure. It was a year of hope fulfilled and dreams realized. I had the opportunity to write for ExemplifyOnline, I met my weight loss goal after two years of work, I finally found community and friendship in my city, and a relationship was unexpectedly restored. Month after month, my expectations were blown away. It wasn't without struggle, but it was outweighed by the blessing.
When I look forward to 2011, all I can see is a big question mark. I definitely have more questions than answers, at this point. The one thing I do know is that this is the first year in my adult life that I, Alison Hunt, do not need to lose weight, and that's pretty darn significant.
Here's to a year filled with pleasant surprises and surpassed expectations!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
A Family Made of Friends @ Exemplify Online
I cannot believe I forgot to post the link to my last article at Exemplify Online!
Here it is... A Family Made of Friends
Enjoy!
Alison
Here it is... A Family Made of Friends
Enjoy!
Alison
Friday, November 26, 2010
A Treasure Trove
Since I wont be doing any Black Friday shopping, I have been scouring Etsy for some great gift ideas {for you AND for me!}. One of the best tools on that site is the Treasury, and I loved it so much that I made two treasuries of my very own:
Make sure to come back here and let me know which item is your favorite!
-Alison
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
{Real Life Is Better Than Fiction}
Contrary to popular belief, I currently have very little interest in reading books with a romantic storyline.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Major Announcement!
A major announcement was made over on www.exemplifyonline.com today!
Major changes, but GOOD changes. I will miss writing my monthly column, but what's coming in 2011 is so much more my heart for online ministry!
Make sure to visit Exemplify Online on facebook and leave some love for all of the writers and our editor, Kristen, as we say goodbye to the magazine portion of the website. This will also be where you can stay up to date on the developments of www.exemplifyonline.com.
Thank you for reading my columns each month over at Exemplify Online! It was an honor and a pleasure.
-Alison
Major changes, but GOOD changes. I will miss writing my monthly column, but what's coming in 2011 is so much more my heart for online ministry!
Make sure to visit Exemplify Online on facebook and leave some love for all of the writers and our editor, Kristen, as we say goodbye to the magazine portion of the website. This will also be where you can stay up to date on the developments of www.exemplifyonline.com.
Thank you for reading my columns each month over at Exemplify Online! It was an honor and a pleasure.
-Alison
Saturday, November 6, 2010
The Art of Discretion
The Art of Discretion
Lately I've been learning the art if discretion, and trying to find the balance between my personal and public/online life. It is one of the main reasons my blogging has been inconsistent, at best, over the years.
Discretion is the combination of discernment and wisdom...
The book of Proverbs in the Bible has so much to say about wisdom and discernment. Over and over it says to not let the words of wisdom depart from your sight, tie them around your neck, wear them as an adornment, and to keep them in the midst of your heart. {See Proverbs 3-5}
Discernment and wisdom are two of things I pray for the most. They are also the two things I am continually tested on...makes sense though, right? How will I know how much I've learned unless I've been tested?
How Much Is Too Much?
I love to use social media like twitter and facebook, but how much is too much information to put out there for all the world to access? At what point do life's details become cheapened when they are put in a status update for hundreds of people to see at the same time? What does it say to my friends about how I value them when they have to find out major life's details online and not from a personal contact?
These questions are not just limited to social media. They can be applied "real life" (aka, not my online life). For example, does everyone at church or work really need to know where I was last weekend or the details of my relationship? Probably not. Do my family and close friends get more details of my life? Most definitely! Accountability is a good part of life. It helps keep me from crossing over into the darkness of life.
It's Not Just About Me {re: selfishness is never a good look}
I tend to tell just about anything to anyone who asks because I get so excited about what is going on and what God is doing. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's not just about me anymore. It never really has been, but even more so now that I have a boyfriend, I need to learn how to share without over-sharing. He has been the major catalyst for growing in discretion. There's something to be said for allowing myself to treasure the details and learning the right way to express my life. Journal = details; blog = broad strokes; facebook/twitter = random updates & a means for communication with friends.
More Questions Than Answers
The goal I am trying to accomplish is to honor all of my relationships by considering how they would feel about being a part of my online story sharing. Have you ever stopped to think about that before now? I sure haven't.
How do you remain honest with your life on your blog without over-sharing? Do you set boundaries about what is OK to write about? Do you talk with the people in your life about their privacy standards?
I do know that there are people on all sides of this issue and that I have very few answers to my questions. So, while I'm trying to figure this out for myself, feel free to comment with advice, wisdom and answers!
Lately I've been learning the art if discretion, and trying to find the balance between my personal and public/online life. It is one of the main reasons my blogging has been inconsistent, at best, over the years.
Discretion is the combination of discernment and wisdom...
The book of Proverbs in the Bible has so much to say about wisdom and discernment. Over and over it says to not let the words of wisdom depart from your sight, tie them around your neck, wear them as an adornment, and to keep them in the midst of your heart. {See Proverbs 3-5}
Discernment and wisdom are two of things I pray for the most. They are also the two things I am continually tested on...makes sense though, right? How will I know how much I've learned unless I've been tested?
How Much Is Too Much?
I love to use social media like twitter and facebook, but how much is too much information to put out there for all the world to access? At what point do life's details become cheapened when they are put in a status update for hundreds of people to see at the same time? What does it say to my friends about how I value them when they have to find out major life's details online and not from a personal contact?
These questions are not just limited to social media. They can be applied "real life" (aka, not my online life). For example, does everyone at church or work really need to know where I was last weekend or the details of my relationship? Probably not. Do my family and close friends get more details of my life? Most definitely! Accountability is a good part of life. It helps keep me from crossing over into the darkness of life.
It's Not Just About Me {re: selfishness is never a good look}
I tend to tell just about anything to anyone who asks because I get so excited about what is going on and what God is doing. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it's not just about me anymore. It never really has been, but even more so now that I have a boyfriend, I need to learn how to share without over-sharing. He has been the major catalyst for growing in discretion. There's something to be said for allowing myself to treasure the details and learning the right way to express my life. Journal = details; blog = broad strokes; facebook/twitter = random updates & a means for communication with friends.
More Questions Than Answers
The goal I am trying to accomplish is to honor all of my relationships by considering how they would feel about being a part of my online story sharing. Have you ever stopped to think about that before now? I sure haven't.
How do you remain honest with your life on your blog without over-sharing? Do you set boundaries about what is OK to write about? Do you talk with the people in your life about their privacy standards?
I do know that there are people on all sides of this issue and that I have very few answers to my questions. So, while I'm trying to figure this out for myself, feel free to comment with advice, wisdom and answers!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
In the Meantime @ Exemplify Magazine
The October issue of www.exemplifyonline.com has just gone live today, and I could not be more excited for you to head on over to read it! This month's theme is Harvest, and each writer hits it at a different angle. There is always a harvest to look forward to. Whether it's about to ripen or is years yet to come...we can hold on to the hope that Jesus is our ultimate reward.
One thing I have loved so much about writing for Exemplify Magazine is that I write my column 2 months in advance of it's release. So when it goes live, I like to look back to see where I was when I wrote it, and where I am now as I read it again. So fun!
Thank you for clicking over to www.exemplifyonline.com to read the October issue! Look for my article "In the Meantime" among the pages of this month's magazine! {scroll down the homepage for the magazine}
Love-love,
Alison
One thing I have loved so much about writing for Exemplify Magazine is that I write my column 2 months in advance of it's release. So when it goes live, I like to look back to see where I was when I wrote it, and where I am now as I read it again. So fun!
Thank you for clicking over to www.exemplifyonline.com to read the October issue! Look for my article "In the Meantime" among the pages of this month's magazine! {scroll down the homepage for the magazine}
Love-love,
Alison
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Writing Music
No...I'm not writing music, but I wrote something and found the music download jackpot.
First things first, the writing. The September issue of Exemplify Magazine is live! The whole issue is beautiful, as usual, and you can find me beginning on page 42. This month I write about being an introvert and making friends.
Now the music! I've always been a fan of the Relevant magazine podcast, but for no good reason at all I haven't downloaded it in a super long time. What I love the most is the artist interviews and the live sets they did in the Relevant studio. Last night I found that all of those live recordings are available for FREE download on http://www.relevantmagazine.com/media/relevant-podcast/music-download. It is full of music artists you know and love, and a lot more you have never heard but NEED in your life. Trust me and you're welcome.
First things first, the writing. The September issue of Exemplify Magazine is live! The whole issue is beautiful, as usual, and you can find me beginning on page 42. This month I write about being an introvert and making friends.
Now the music! I've always been a fan of the Relevant magazine podcast, but for no good reason at all I haven't downloaded it in a super long time. What I love the most is the artist interviews and the live sets they did in the Relevant studio. Last night I found that all of those live recordings are available for FREE download on http://www.relevantmagazine.com/media/relevant-podcast/music-download. It is full of music artists you know and love, and a lot more you have never heard but NEED in your life. Trust me and you're welcome.
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